Menendez Brothers’ Sentencing Postponed Due to Raging L.A. Wildfires
Fire and ash have permeated every aspect of Los Angeles life since the eruption of the Palisades Fire, which sparked just a little more than a week ago, though it has felt like much longer for many. While the smoke of the L.A. fires has yet to reach them in San Diego County, the lives of two former Angelenos, Erik and Lyle Menendez, will also be affected by the tragedies in their hometown.
Judge Michael Jesic has opted to once again postpone the brothers’ widely publicized sentencing until March 20-21, according to a release by the D.A.’s office.
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Originally set for Dec. 11, Judge Jesic had already pushed the hearing to Jan. 30, with an extra day of Jan. 31 if needed, to allow time for the newly elected Los Angeles D.A. Nathan Hochman to reacquaint himself with the case. “The continuance is due to the impact of recent wildfires on the parties’ extensive preparations for the hearings,” the D.A. added.
Although Friday offered a brief reprieve from the winds, allowing firefighters to gain more control over the still-raging Palisades and Eaton fires, renewed bouts of strong Santa Ana winds are expected to pick up again early next week, which could significantly hinder firefighting efforts and exacerbate crime within the ongoing fire zones.
While catastrophe can bring out the best in people, giving rise to the everyday hero and arousing the incredible resilience of the human spirit, it also attracts the vulturous, those who prey on the downfall of others. As fires have engulfed tens of thousands of acres in L.A. County, destroying thousands of homes and structures in their wake, looting, vandalism and various other crimes have become rampant within evacuated neighborhoods.
This new surge of crime in an already crippled and fear-ridden L.A. has turned the new D.A.’s attention away from the Menendez brothers’ high-profile case. Since last week, an estimated 97 arrests have been made in fire zones, with Hochman stating that his office is actively investigating incidents of looting, price-gouging and arson. “Justice will be swift, justice will be significant, if you want to take advantage of this tragedy,” said Hochman during a press conference on Wednesday.
Renewed public interest in the Menendez case was sparked by Ryan Murphy’s hit Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and the viral intrigue has since garnered a subsequent Netflix documentary The Menendez Brothers, released in October of last year. Peacock also released a docuseries, Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, which revealed new evidence corroborating the brothers’ long-held claim that they were sexually abused by their father. The brothers were originally convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 for the gruesome murder of their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez.
This most recent twist may not have revealed any clear indication of Hochman’s leaning on the case at this time; however, it should be remembered that the previous D.A. George Gascon had indicated a willingness to reconsider the brothers’ sentences and at the height of his reelection campaign in October wrote a letter recommending that they be resentenced to 50 years to life, which would make them eligible for parole. Gascón’s critics decried this move, claiming that he was merely betting on public interest in the case as a last-ditch effort to hold onto his office — he was well behind Hochman in the polls by this point. Despite criticism, Gascón held firm to his stance. However, the former D.A.’s perception of being soft-on-crime was a strong factor in the failure of his reelection campaign, and now Hochman will have to weigh how his handling of the Menendez case will set the tone for his tenure.
So far, Hochman has been clear and direct when speaking about the case. He said, “The Menendez case, though it’s received high levels of media attention, will not get preferential treatment because it is on the media stage.”
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